e how to put your troops in motion, I wish you to
begin the fight.' 'All right, General, good night.' With
these explicit instructions, I left his headquarters,
returned to camp, and gave the requisite orders for the
soldiers to have an early breakfast, and be ready for
serious work at daybreak. Then taking Adjutant Clelland I
reconnoitered the enemy's position, tracing the line of his
camp fires, and decided on my plan of assault.

"The morning dawned with a dense fog, which held us in check
for some time after we were ready to march. During our stay
in Nashville, I was the guest of Major W. B. Lewis, through
whose yard ran our line. He had been a warm personal friend
of Andrew Jackson, occupying a place in the Treasury
Department during his administration. He gave me the room
formerly occupied by the hero of New Orleans, and
entertained me with many anecdotes of him. I remember in
particular one which I especially appreciated, because of
the scarcity of fuel in our own camp. At one time General
Jackson ordered certain troops to rendezvous for a few days
at Nashville. Major Lewis, acting as Quartermaster, laid in
a supply of several hundred cords of wood, which he supposed
would be ample to last during their entire stay in the city.
The troops arrived on a 'raw and gusty day,' and being
accustomed to comfortable fires at home, they burned up
every stick the first night, to the quartermaster's great
consternation.

"To return: On the morning of December 15th, Major Lewis
said he would have a servant bring me my breakfast, which
was not ready, however, when I started. The boy, with an eye
to safety, followed me afar off, so far that he only reached
me, I think, about two o'clock in the afternoon. But I
really believe the delay, improved the flavor of the
breakfast.

"As soon as the fog lifted, the battle began in good
earnest. Hood mistook my assault for an attack in force upon
his right flank, and weakening his left in order to meet it,
gave the coveted opportunity to Thomas, who improved it by
assailing Hood's left flank, doubling it up, and capturing a
large number of prisoners.

"Thus the first day's fight wore away. It had been for us a
severe but glorious day. Over three hundred of my command
had fallen, b